Vision: Children around the world realize their potential, creating a better future for themselves, their countries, and the global community.

Mission: To help children around the world reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with measurable impact.

Who We Are

All Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations share one mission, unchanged since the first agency’s founding in 1904 in America: to help at-risk young people achieve their full potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring with measurable outcomes. Research published in the 1990s documenting the effectiveness of the model heightened the demand for Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring outside the United States, and Big Brothers Big Sisters International was created in 1998 to respond to that need. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA and Big Brothers Big Sisters International (BBBSI), two separate entities, work together through a cooperative agreement to promote BBBS services globally.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters brand is associated with excellence in service to youth and has been identified as one of America’s Greatest Brands. That commitment to excellence in delivery of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring is shared by the international Affiliates who are passionate advocates for children in their respective countries.

In 2009, over 244,000 children and youth in the United States and more than 27,000 “Littles” around the world had a Big Brother or Big Sister. Children on different continents face many different challenges, but the positive impact of a long-term Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring relationship has already been demonstrated across cultures. Global partners in youth service, government, and business are supporting the goal at Big Brothers Big Sisters International to make it possible for even more children around the world to have a friend, advocate, and role model in their lives.